I helped organize a number of drives in NYC for my daughter's classmate who was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. Absolutely anyone can go to donate at any drive to get into the national database. And it really is what Danya describes in the article - its 2 cotton swabs from the inside of your cheek. It takes more time to fill out the contact information paperwork.

For those not in the Boston area, the national website is http://www.dkmsamericas.org